Where will Zelda: Breath of the Wild land among open-world games?

As Switch systems roll out, it's inevitable that Zelda is going to likewise begin to pop up out there in the ether and be savagely consumed by fans and press. It being Zelda's first foray into open-world design, where do you feel it will fall among the open-world flagships, i.e. Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Witcher 3, MGSV, and others? Is this game one that will redefine the genre by setting a new standard? Or will it find itself somewhere further down the spectrum?

Also realize this is a flagrant attempt for me keep berating FFXV further, because f*ck that game. You all have permission and will receive extra points for sandbagging it without restraint.

Near the top. No other game has offered this level of interactivity so far.

it's going to make horizon zero dawn look like a steaming pile of shit, that's for sure

@charizard1605: Points deducted for not bashing FFXV

I honestly dont know, the open world is my biggest fear for BotW. If the world is empty and not fun to traverse the whole game is going to suck

Zelda has had open world before, the very first game was open world even... Breath of the Wild will be somewhere at the top though. Game of the year without a doubt.

Closer to the strengths of MGSV, without its weaknesses. Rockstar knows how to make a pretty setting, the game part is actually rigid as hell and boring as sin. For all the Ubisoft formulaic bullshit and padding their game with fluff, who the **** do you think gave them that idea? Our lord and savior of relentless tedium known as Rockstar folks. Fucking jabronis.

Bethesda's games cool sandboxes in the sense that they have an amusement park level of variation in their best games, and generally a lot of moving systems, but weak cores, and completely illogical settings.

A bit pie in the sky, but I think it'll be the happy ground of MGSV n Witcher 3. It won't quite have the detail, scale, n production of the Witcher 3, but it'll be vibrant, should have a sense of atmosphere, and life to its setting. And I expect some reasonable sense of logic to Nintendo's world design, the flip side Witcher's actual mechanics aren't sandboxy, MGSV is a fucking sandbox through and through, and it looks like Zelda's systems are closer to that with the different ways you can interactive with little random pieces of the environment.

Throw in a more consistent core mechanics (probably without the sheer depth of a MGSV) and Nintendo's dungeon designs, and it should easily be among one of the best outings in terms of open world games.

And FFXV deserves more backlash for that asstastic combat that Chaz gassed up, I mean jesus christ. I know Nomura stopped directing that game awhile ago, but you just knew enough of his rubbish gameplay ideas would still be in the game. The man is fucking dreadful when it comes to the actual making a game part, and he's a shit artist boot. Most over drawn bullshit. Not that Tabata's not a clown on his own, yeah lets open up a game that could show case immense freedom, by having me start the game pushing a stupid car so we can spend an eternity before we let me play a game.

On the flip side my man Nagoshi with Yakuza? Lets you actually play a fucking video game, and Majima is way the **** cooler than any character FF has had.....oh right, ever. What a bum ass series.

@jg4xchamp:

@jg4xchamp: This man speaks truth.

I dont know, but Zelda games are known for being top quality stuff, technically speaking. I assume it will be a very polished and compelling open world, but since its their first time then who knows, will have to wait and see.

I typically don't look at games I am interested in prior to release, but I'm hoping it's just like any other Zelda game:

A larger open area, with certain parts and secrets you can't access without finding gear in the various dungeons.

...but like I said, I haven't looked at any trailers or game play footage - I've only seen a few pictures here and there.

Word is it's bigger than skyrim, but smaller than xenoblade chronicles X.

Oh, and FFXV sucks balls.

I think the game will be better than Skyrim and Assassin's Creed. Probably among the best in its genre. The open world genre isn't all that great, really.

TECHNICALLY...wind waker was open world and of course the original zelda, and also a link between worlds opened up the gameplay and let you play any dungeon in any order.

BOTW will be a lot like this I think.

@Bread_or_Decide: Possibly....yeah I did play Wind Waker and it does have an open world feel to it. Been a while to be honest. Whatever it is though it should be polished, we wont we be seeing characters falling into the ground, etc. And the environment should have some cool details. Zelda is usually pretty meticulous with its little details

On a side note....

#I-hate-correcting-typos-with-smart-phone

I think it will rank my number 1 from how they treat wildlife alone.

Know thats how you make a game ladies and gentlemen.

@Bread_or_Decide:

It'll be good for a portable game.

It will land right next to all the other Open World Zelda games, because every Zelda game is an Open World Zelda game.

Why do some people think this is a first for the series?

I mean if the rumors are true.... right out the gate it is already No.1 in map size, as the biggest open world game ever. Thats a good start.

@LegatoSkyheart: Using the term as one with a specific meaning. The advent of "open-world" is a modern trend and genre, "open-ended" preceded it. There's plenty of instances to illustrate that the philosophy existed prior to the 7th generation, but it was not considered its own genre at that time.

I think games are big enough today that the size of the world really doesn't matter at all.

@PurpleMan5000: Can't argue with that.... also I'm sure there are cases where too big of a world can dilute the game play.

But I have faith that a large scale Hyrule will not disappoint.

I really don't know to be honest. I'm hoping it takes the best of open world games that have a sandbox centered design and blend it with the attention to detail and puzzle solving that the series is known for. My apprehensions reside in the fact that there are so many ways the open world design can go. Personally, I am fearful because certain traits of certain open world games are things I generally avoid.

Yes, but Zelda has always been that type of Genre.

Even back in the NES days Zelda has been an Open End game. Just because the Open World Genre is "trending" with games like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy (even though Final Fantasy was technically always open world too)

The Map is just purely bigger then recent Zelda games and there's certainly way more things to do then Skyward Sword which had little to no room for exploration unlike every other Zelda game before it.

The more I watch vids, the more I see Nintendo nailed it. It's almost like they thought of every little detail.

I should have voted AAAA in the hype thread.

You still can, I'm allowing changed votes, as long as you notify me of the change :p

In a world where Bethesda and Rockstar run things, barely a dent.

If the Xenoblade Chronicles games shall be any indicator of just how well Nintendo can take on an open world game, I say believe everything they say when they're hyping it to be as massive as it is.

If we do buy a Switch and this game, I'll be comparing it to open-world games I have: Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Fallout 4, GTA V, Watch Dogs, The Witcher 3, and STALKER: Call of Pripyat. Of those, my favorite is Far Cry 4. The many modes of transportation and having an AI companion on call makes it my favorite. I enjoy just walking around in Far Cry 4's world. But, it's a pretty hostile world, especially in the second valley.

Very tall order for Zelda: BoftWL to top in my view.

I'm hoping towards the top, but my hype is sitting at 7/10. Im really worried the open world will be quite boring

Likewise, but I'm more concerned about quest significance and variety.

Near Dragon Age Inquisition.

I'm still getting day one (well as soon as im back from overseas) because it does look quite special. Just not getting carried away in the hype like sheep are

You'll be disappointed by not being disappointed :p

This is what I'm expecting. A legit polished sandbox, but in an open world that doesn't suck.

And hopefully without too much bullshit side content. It's pretty much guaranteed to be there, just hoping Nintendo scales that shit back more than others.

@charizard1605: lol STFU

@nintendoboy16: He wasn't talking commercially.

It has a real shot to be one of the best of the gen for sure. Nintendo will have the most unique take on the genre. There's been a bit too much bleeding over between open world series lately.

It seems like every tree can be climbed or cut down or both. lol

Sony were correct when they said greatness awaits.

Its coming March 3rd and Zelda Breath of the Wild is that greatness.

@iandizion713: lol that does look cool

I'm expecting it to be more in line with Arkham City and Knight in that it will have great game mechanics and brilliant design around every corner. Something almost all open world games have lacked.

It would be as amazing and ground breakingly good as Skyward Sword. ?

@Pedro: Thatd be cool, Skyward Sword was amazing and still my favorite Zelda.

@iandizion713: Skyward Sword was garbage and GS shamefully gave it an 8.

@Pedro: Thankfully the cooler critics praised it more. Cant win them all.

Even critically, I don't see it doing that well.

What kind of interactivity are we taking about?

A franchise that gets routinely apologized for as much as Zelda won't review as well, based on what? The damage to the Nintendo brand?

How do you get fucking dumber?